1 NOW after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
2 The son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub,
3 The son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth,
4 The son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki,
5 The son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest:
6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.
7 And there went up some of the children of Israel, and of the priests, and the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8 And he came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9 For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra the priest, the scribe, even a scribe of the words of the commandments of the Lord, and of his statutes to Israel.
12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect peace, and at such a time.
13 I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites, in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.
14 Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seven counsellers, to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which is in thine hand;
15 And to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellers have freely offered unto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16 And all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem:
17 That thou mayest buy speedily with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their meat offerings and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18 And whatsoever shall seem good to thee, and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.
19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.
20 And whatsoever more shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
21 And I, even I Artaxerxes the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the river, that whatsoever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,
22 Unto an hundred talents of silver, and to an hundred measures of wheat, and to an hundred baths of wine, and to an hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23 Whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24 Also we certify you, that touching any of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.
25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
26 And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:
28 And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellers, and before all the king’s mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me.

1Now after these things, in the reigne of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the sonne of Azariah, the sonne of Hilkiah,

2The sonne of Shallum, the sonne of Zadok, the sonne of Ahitub,

3The sonne of Amariah, the sonne of Azariah, the sonne of Meraioth,

4The sonne of Zeraiah, the sonne of Uzzi, the sonne of Bukki,

5The sonne of Abishua, the sonne of Phinehas, the sonne of Eleazar, the sonne of Aaron the chiefe Priest:

6This Ezra went vp from Babylon, and hee was a ready Scribe in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had giuen: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the Lord his God vpon him.

7And there went vp some of the children of Israel, and of the Priests, and the Leuites, and the Singers, and the Porters, and the Nethinims, vnto Ierusalem, in the seuenth yeere of Artaxerxes the king.

8And he came to Ierusalem in the fifth moneth, which was in the seuenth yeere of the king.

9For vpon the first day of the first moneth, began he to go vp frō Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth moneth, came he to Ierusalem, according to the good hand of his God vpon him.

10For Ezra had prepared his heart to seeke the Law of the Lord, and to doe it, and to teach in Israel, Statutes and Iudgements.

11 Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gaue vnto Ezra the Priest, the Scribe, euen a Scribe of the words of the commandements of the Lord, and of his Statutes to Israel.

12Artaxerxes king of kings, Unto Ezra the Priest, a Scribe of the Law of the God of heauen, Perfect peace, and at such a time.

13I make a decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his Priests, and Leuites in my Realme, which are minded of their owne free-will to goe vp to Ierusalem, goe with thee.

14Forasmuch as thou art sent of the king, and of his seuen counsellers, to enquire concerning Iudah and Ierusalem, according to the Lawe of thy God, which is in thine hand;

15And to cary the siluer and gold, which the king and his counsellers haue freely offered vnto the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Ierusalem.

16And all the siluer and gold, that thou canst find in all the prouince of Babylon, with the free-will offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God, which is in Ierusalem:

17That thou maiest buy speedily with this money, bullockes, rammes, lambes, with their meate offerings, and their drinke offerings, and offer them vpon the altar of the house of your God, which is in Ierusalem.

18And whatsoeuer shall seeme good to thee, and to thy brethren, to doe with the rest of the siluer and gold; that doe, after the will of your God.

19The vessels also that are giuen thee, for the seruice of the house of thy God, those deliuer thou before the God of Ierusalem.

20And whatsoeuer more shall be needfull for the house of thy God, which thou shalt haue occasion to bestowe; bestowe it out of the kings treasure house.

21And I, euen I Artaxerxes the king, doe make a decree to all the treasurers which are beyond the riuer, that whatsoeuer Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heauen, shall require of you, it be done speedily,

22Unto an hundred talents of siluer, and to an hundred measures of wheate, and to an hundred bathes of wine, and to an hundred bathes of oyle, and salt, without prescribing how much.

23Whatsoeuer is commanded by the God of heauen, let it be diligently done, for the house of the God of heauen: for why should there be wrath against the realme of the king and his sonnes?

24Also we certifie you, that touching any of the priests, and Leuites, singers, porters, Nethinims, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawfull to impose tolle, tribute, or custome vpon them.

25And thou, Ezra, after the wisdome of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and iudges, which may iudge all the people, that are beyond the riuer, all such as know the lawes of thy God, and teach yee them that knowe them not.

26And whosoeuer will not doe the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let iudgement be executed speedily vpon him, whether it be vnto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.

27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this, in the kings heart, to beautifie the house of the Lord which is in Ierusalem:

28And hath extended mercy vnto me, before the king and his counsellers, and before all the kings mighty princes, and I was strengthned as the hand of the Lord my God was vpon me, and I gathered together out of Israel, chiefe men to goe vp with me.

I == 1st Chr 6:14 ; Neh 2:1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VI == Ezra 7:9 , 11-12 , 21 ; 8:22 , 31

 

 

VII Ezra 2:43 ; 8:1 , 15 , 20

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Ezra 7:6 ; Neh 2:8 , 18

 

 

 

X == Deut 33:10 ; Ezra 6:25 ; Neh 8:1-8 ; Ps 119:45 ; Mal 2:7

 

 

 

XII == Ezra 4:10 ; Ezek 26:7 ; Dan 2:37

 

 

 

 

 

XIV == Exth 1:14

 

 

XV == 2nd Chr 6:2 ; Ps 135:21

 

 

XVI == 1st Chr 29:6 , 9 ; Ezra 8:25

 

 

XVII == Num 15:4-13 ; Deut 12:5 , 11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXV == Ex 18:21-22 ; Deut 16:18 ; 2nd Chr 17:7 ; Ezra 7:10 ; Mal 2:7 ; Matt 23:2-3

 

 

 

 

 

XXVII == 1st Chr 29:10 ; Ezra 6:22

 

XXVIII == Ezra 5:5 ; 7:6 , 9 ; 8:18 ; 9:9

1 After these events, during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra, son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

2 son of Shallum, son of Zadok, son of Ahitub,

3 son of Amariah, son of Azariah, son of Meraioth,

4 son of Zerahiah, son of Uzzi, son of Bukki,

5 son of Abishua, son of Phinehas, son of Eleazar, son of the high priest Aaron - 

6 this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a scribe, well-versed in the law of Moses which was given by the LORD, the God of Israel. Because the hand of the LORD, his God, was upon him, the king granted him all that he requested.

7 Some of the Israelites and some priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, and temple slaves also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month of that seventh year of the king.

9 On the first day of the first month he resolved on the journey up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he arrived at Jerusalem, for the favoring hand of his God was upon him.

10 Ezra had set his heart on the study and practice of the law of the LORD and on teaching statutes and ordinances in Israel.

11 This is a copy of the rescript which King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest-scribe, the scribe of the text of the LORD'S commandments and statutes for Israel:

12 "Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven (then, after greetings):

13 I have issued this decree, that anyone in my kingdom belonging to the people of Israel, its priests or Levites, who is minded to go up to Jerusalem with you, may do so.

14 You are the envoy from the king and his seven counselors to supervise Judah and Jerusalem in respect of the law of your God which is in your possession,

15 and to bring with you the silver and gold which the king and his counselors have freely contributed to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,

16 as well as all the silver and gold which you may receive throughout the province of Babylon, together with the free-will offerings which the people and priests freely contribute for the house of their God in Jerusalem.

17 You must take care, therefore, to use this money to buy bulls, rams, lambs, and the cereal offerings and libations proper to these, and to offer them on the altar of the house of your God in Jerusalem.

18 You and your brethren may do whatever seems best to you with the remainder of the silver and gold, conformably to the will of your God.

19 The utensils consigned to you for the service of the house of your God you are to deposit before the God of Jerusalem.

20 Whatever else you may be required to supply for the needs of the house of your God, you may draw from the royal treasury.

21 I, Artaxerxes the king, issue this decree to all the treasurers of West-of-Euphrates: Whatever Ezra the priest, scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requests of you, dispense to him accurately,

22 within these limits: silver, one hundred talents; wheat, one hundred kors; wine, one hundred baths; oil, one hundred baths; salt, without limit.

23 Let everything that is ordered by the God of heaven be carried out exactly for the house of the God of heaven, that wrath may not come upon the realm of the king and his sons.

24 We also inform you that it is not permitted to impose taxes, tributes, or tolls on any priest, Levite, singer, gatekeeper, temple slave, or any other servant of that house of God.

25 "As for you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God which is in your possession, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people in West-of-Euphrates, to all, that is, who know the laws of your God. Instruct those who do not know these laws.

26 Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let strict judgment be executed upon him, whether death, or corporal punishment, or a fine on his goods, or imprisonment."

27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who thus disposed the mind of the king to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem,

28 and who let me find favor with the king, with his counselors, and with all the most influential royal officials. I therefore took courage and, with the hand of the LORD, my God, upon me, I gathered together Israelite family heads to make the return journey with me.

v 1-5. At least two men had the name or title Artaxerxes. This is the one which followed Xerxes of Esther, and he was called Longimanus, for his long arm or arms. Ezra’s genealogy is traced precisely back to Aaron. Those who could not were as polluted, put from the priesthood, but still allowed to eat of most holy things, 2:61-63.

v 6-10. Ezra was readily granted permission  to go to Jerusalem from Artaxerxes. He may have been influenced by Esther, who was possibly still Queen Mother, and his mother or stepmother. The best reason for Ezra’s success is that he had prepared his heart before the Lord to seek, do and teach the law of the Lord. Some from each of the major groups returned with him, a journey of exactly four months. They probably did not travel on the Sabbath, so they averaged about 10 miles a day for the 1000 miles.

 

 

 

 

 

v 11. Ezra 7:12-26 is an official copy of the commission given Ezra authorizing the trip. In the Old Testament the words were in Aramaic, the original language in which it was written. Ezra could display it any time his authority was questioned.

v 12. We assume Ezra had made the request. A scribe was a secretary, writer or recorder, but as used here, it  refers to one learned in, and an able teacher of the law.

v 13. The offer to return is remindful of the offer of salvation, it is readily available to all, but the majority do not accept it.

v 14-17. Sent as “Secretary of Jewish Foreign Affairs”. The king’s seven chief counselors also endorsed the trip proposed by Ezra, and willingly gave offerings to help finance it. Ezra could also accept freewill offerings from his countrymen from all over the province of Babylon to buy sacrifices for the altar in Jerusalem.

 

 

 

 

v 18. Ezra was trusted to use any surplus offerings as he felt God led. Today radio and television preachers especially might use it for their own personal gain.

v 19. Apparently not all the gold vessels had been returned to the temple earlier, and these were sent along with Ezra.

v 20.-24. If there were insufficient funds, they would be quickly furnished out of the kings treasuries in all the countries west of the Euphrates. He placed a high limit of three and three fourths tons of silver, 600 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of wine, 600 gallons of olive oil, and unlimited amount of salt. (Salt was commanded with all the offerings, Lev. 2:13.) Moreover, priests, Levites, singers, porters and Nethanims were not to be taxed in any way (Churches are tax exempt today). Nethanims were temple slaves, originally the Gibeonites, Josh. 9;21, but after Saul killed many of them, they were assisted by prisoners of war. The king demanded obedience to anything commanded by God for the temple, so His wrath would not be on the king and his sons. (He wanted good will and order in that area.)

 

 

 

v 25,26. The king granted Ezra authority to set up a theocracy, but God’s plan was for this to be the time of the Gentiles. However, Ezra could appoint men for the civil and judicial system, and disobedience to the law of God could be punished by confiscation of goods, imprisonment or death.

 

 

v 27,28. Ezra praised the Lord for putting it in the king’s heart to beautify the temple and granting such privileges to him. He then launched on the difficult task of persuading well qualified men to go with him. 
“The hand of the Lord upon us” appears in 7:6, 28; 8:18, 22.